An Arriva service in Milton Keynes is to be converted to battery-electric operation next summer using a fleet of eight Wrightbus StreetLites which will incorporate wireless recharging, a technology not previously seen in Britain. It means they should be able to cover comparable schedules to diesel buses. A five-year collaboration agreement has been signed by the eight organisations involved, including Arriva, Wrightbus, Milton Keynes council and Mitsui. The scheme was planned and will be managed by Mitsui-Arup joint venture MBK Arup Sustainable Projects. Its aim is to demonstrate the economic viability of low-carbon public transport. The partners are not putting a cost on the project, but Milton Keynes council was awarded £640,000 of support in the most recent round of Green Bus Fund awards. They say it could reduce annual running costs per bus by between £12,000 and £15,0...